Lubricating composition



Patented Sept. 14, 1948 NITED STATES TENT orrics LUBRICATING COMPOSITION No Drawing. Application October 25, 1944, Serial No. 560,342

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a composition for and process of lubrication and, while capable of a more general application, is especially useful in connection with the cleaning of, and application of lubricant to, small crevices, such as the parts of the tumblers of locks. Broadly considered, the invention comprises a composition suitable for efiecting such lubrication and a method of cleaning and lubricating metal surfaces which consists in projecting in a fine jet stream a mixture of colloidal graphite with a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent for oils and greases, which sol vent boils below the normal body temperature and which serves as a propellant for the mixture of which it is itself a part. For the solvent, I may employ a single compound, such as ethyl chloride, which has a boiling point of approximately 54 F. or dichloro-monofluoro-methane which has a boiling point of approximately 48 F.; or a mixture of said compounds. With either of these volatile halogenated solvents, I mix colloidal graphite as the same is dispensed, being suspended in a finely divided condition in liquids such as alcohol, mineral spirits, kerosene, carbon tetrachloride, etc. For the purpose of my invention, I prefer to use the colloidal graphite as suspended in alcohol, since the latter is freely miscible with ethyl chloride and with dichloromonofluoro-methane. The proportion of the colloidal graphite in liquid suspension to either of the above mentioned solvents, or to a mixture of the same, may be from 2 to 30 parts by volume of colloidal graphite in suspension to 98 to 70 parts by volume of the solvent. I have obtained particularly satisfactory results where I have employed approximately 5 parts by volume of colloidal graphite in liquid suspension to 95 parts by Volume of either of the above solvents or of a mixture of the same.

The mixture thus obtained is placed in a bottle or similar container provided with a capillary jet orifice controlled by a finger-operated valve, such as shown in my Patent No. 2,171,501, the diameter of the orifice varying preferably between five and ten one-thousandths of an inch. In making use of the aforesaid mixture, the operator grasps the container in his hand and opens the valve, the warmth of the hand serving to vaporize the solvent, whereby a pressure is created by the vapor upon the surface of the mixture therebelow, thereby forcing the mixture through a tube dipping into the same and thence through the jet orifice in a fine stream. The fineness of this stream enables the mixture to be delivered into crevices to which lubricant administered in the ordinary manner is inaccessible. Furthermore, the solvent, whether consisting of either ethyl chloride or dichloro monofluoro-methane or a mixture of the same,-being present in aproportion in excessof-that requisite to enable it to function as a propellant for the colloidal graphite and'possessing low vapor tension, contacts and cleans the surfaces desired to be lubricated by removing all hardened grease therefrom, even Where the surfaces are in close proximity to one another, as is the case with the surfaces of the tumblers of locks. Following this cleaning of the surfaces by the solvent, the latter will deposit the colloidal graphite upon the surfaces thus cleaned. The fact that the mixture may be delivered in a fine stream enables it to be propelled through keyholes or other small apertures behind which the working parts to be treated are located and to be directed upon comparatively small areas of the said parts.

Where the solvent known as dichloro-monofiuoro-methane is employed, it not only cleans the surfaces to be lubricated and deposits the colloidal graphite thereon in the manner above described, but is itself non-inflammable and, when admixed with ethyl chloride in a proportion of approximately parts by volume of dichloro-monofiuoro-methane to 20 parts by volume of ethyl chloride, will render such mixture non infiammable.

Where it is impracticable to obtain dichloromonoiiuoro-methane, the admixture of colloidal graphite with ethyl chloride may be rendered non-inflammable by incorporating methylene chloride with such mixture. The methylene chloride renders the mixture not only non-inflammable but removes the grease from the parts to be treated, being an excellent solvent for grease or greasy compounds. Since dichloro-monofiuoro-methane is more volatile than ethyl chloride, it may be incapable of removing relatively thick accumulations of hardened grease because of its liability to become completely volatilized before such removal is completed. Where such conditions exist, its deficiency can be overcome by adding methylene chloride thereto. Where methylene chloride is thus used, the proportions of the ingredients of the mixture will be approximately 20 parts by volume of ethyl chloride or dichloro-monofluoro-methane to 80 parts by volume of methylene chloride. When methylene chloride is mixed with either of the above solvents in these proportions, the mixture will boil below body temperature and can be utilized in chloride with dichloro-monofiuoro-methane insubstantially the proportions of 20 parts by volume of ethyl chloride to 80 parts by volume of dichloro-monofluoro-methane, the proportion of the colloidal graphite to the aforesaid mixture of ethyl chloride with dichloro-monofiuoro-methane being approximately from 2 to 10 parts by volume of the colloidal graphite to 98 to 90 parts by volume of the said mixture.

2. A lubricating compound comprising colloidal graphite dispersed in a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent for grease consisting of a mixture of dichloro monofiuoro methane with methylene chloride in the approximate proportions of 20 parts by volume of dichloro-monofiuoro-methane to 80 parts by volume of methylene chloride and the colloidal graphite being mixed with the aforesaid mixture in substantially the proportion of from 2 to 10 parts by volume of colloidal graphite to 98 to 90 parts by volume of the said mixture.

CHARLES L. GEBAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 986,793v Acheson Mar. 14, 1911 1,714,184 Moore May 21, 1929 1,857,235 Burton May 10, 1932 1,946,121 Wood Feb. 6, 1934 2,070,167 Iddings Feb. 9, 1937 2,134,602 Cohen Oct. 25, 1938 2,345,198 Hodson Mar. 28, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Name Date 440,525 Great Britain Jan. 1, 1936 

